Garniture tongue of a garniture device

ABSTRACT

Garniture tongue of a garniture device of a rod machine arranged for compressing a material. The garniture tongue includes a rod guide surface and the garniture tongue being composed at least in part of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 ofGerman Patent Application No. 102 02 847.8, filed on Jan. 24, 2002, thedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a garniture tongue (or a formingand compression surface of a compression mold) of a garniture (forming)device of a rod machine (or a rod maker or a rod making machine) forcompressing a rod of a material processed in the tobacco processingindustry, e.g., tobacco, during its conveyance along a rod guide surfaceof the garniture tongue. The invention further relates to a garnituredevice of a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry.

[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information

[0005] The garniture tongue (forming and compression surface of acompression mold) of the garniture device is used to compress or shapethe rod of a material processed in the tobacco processing industry,e.g., tobacco or another smokeable material. In this manner, thecompression and shaping occurs during the conveyance of the rod alongthe garniture tongue with a reduction of the rod cross section.

[0006] To produce a cigarette rod, isolated and loosened tobacco fibersare usually combined into a fiber rod on a rod conveyor circulating in atobacco channel. The fiber rod is continuously discharged out of the rodassembly area and evened out before it is deposited on a wrappermaterial strip moved with a circulating forming belt in a garnituredevice and wrapped in the garniture device with the wrapper materialstrip, e.g., a cigarette paper strip. The wrapper material strip, whichat first enters the intake area of the garniture device flat, is thenformed into a u-shape around the fiber rod while passing through thegarniture device, before it is completely wrapped around the rod and isclosed around the rod, as a rule by adhesion, to form a cylindricalwrapper along an overlapping seam.

[0007] A garniture device for a cigarette machine is described, e.g., inU.S. Pat. No. 4,732,165. With intense compression of the rod along thegarniture tongue, the quality of the tobacco rod can deteriorateconsiderably. This deterioration of the quality of the tobacco rod canbe because congestions can occur due to the friction of the tobaccomaterial with the guide surfaces that are assigned to the garnituretongue, which in turn can lead to fluctuations in density. Withcorrespondingly high friction values, the garniture tongues abraderelatively quickly due to a relatively high mechanical stress, so thatthey have a short service life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides improvement of the rod qualitycompared with existing garniture tongues. In this manner, the servicelife of such devices can be increased.

[0009] In accordance with the invention, a garniture tongue of agarniture (shaping) device of a rod machine for compressing a rod of amaterial processed in the tobacco processing industry, especially oftobacco, during its conveyance along a rod guide surface of thegarniture tongue is disclosed in that the garniture tongue is made atleast in part of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

[0010] Long service lives are achieved for the garniture tongue of theinstant invention by using a steel alloy with a high titanium carbidecontent because, surprisingly, tobacco or tobacco particles slide alongthe steel alloy with high titanium carbide content very well, so that inparticular at high rod speeds of over 100 m/min, there is a very lowfriction coefficient between the garniture tongue and the tobaccoparticles, even with differing moisture values. A lower wear of thegarniture tongue results from the high sliding properties or the lowfriction coefficient.

[0011] Preferably at least a part of the rod guide surface is made ofthe steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. With this embodimentof the invention it is possible, e.g., to equip a smaller part of thegarniture tongue with the steel alloy with high titanium carbidecontent, so that costs can be saved. To this end preferably a solidpiece having the rod guide surface is soldered or compound sintered ontoanother part of the garniture tongue. Alternatively to this, it ispossible to produce a relatively thin layer of the steel alloy with hightitanium carbide content by laser ablation or by thermal vaporizationor, e.g., electron beam vaporization.

[0012] A particularly abrasion-resistant steel alloy can be obtainedwhen the steel alloy is a steel alloy produced by powder metallurgy.

[0013] In the exemplary embodiment, the titanium carbide content of thesteel alloy is more than 20% by weight. Preferably, the titanium carbidecontent of the steel alloy is between 31% by weight and 35% by weight,and, more preferably, is between 32% by weight and 34% by weight.

[0014] The binder phase is preferably martensite or austenite. Steelalloys that can be processed very well are obtained with a binder phaseof martensite, featuring a high corrosion resistance depending on theircarbon content. The following, e.g., are possible components of themartensite and their percentages: C: 0.5-0.65% by weight, Cr: 3.0-19.5%by weight, Mo: 2.0-3.0% by weight, Cu: 1.0-1.5% by weight, Ni: 0-0.25%by weight, the balance being Fe.

[0015] An outstanding corrosion resistance and excellent wear resistanceare obtained with austenite as binder phase. With austenite, thecomponents are preferably as follows: Cr: approx. 18% by weight, Ni:approx. 12% by weight, Mo: approx. 2% by weight, Cu: approx. 1% byweight, Nb: approx. 0.85% by weight, the balance being Fe.

[0016] In particular steel alloys with the brand name “FERRO-TITANIT” byThyssen Stahl AG, Oberschlesienstraβe 16, Krefeld, are preferablysuitable as the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. With astructure of titanium carbide and martensite, the preferable alloys arecalled FERRO-TITANIT-C-Spezial (33.0% by weight titanium carbidecontent) and FERRO-TITANIT-S (with a content of 32% by weight titaniumcarbide). A preferable alloy with a structure of titanium carbide andaustenite is called “FERRO-TITANIT-U” by Thyssen Stahl AG, and comprisesa content of 34% by weight titanium carbide.

[0017] Preferably, the steel alloy is hardened, which results in a veryhigh abrasion resistance. The hardening is hereby carried out accordingto the heat treatment specified by its manufacturer, Thyssen Stahl AG.

[0018] A garniture device of a rod machine of the tobacco processingindustry preferably includes a garniture tongue according to theinvention or a preferred garniture tongue, as described above.

[0019] Moreover, if a device for removing tobacco particles from a rodconveyor of a cigarette machine during the transfer of a tobacco rodfrom the rod conveyor to the garniture device is further developed suchthat at least a part of a rod guide surface of the removal device ismade of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content, the servicelife of such a removal device will also be noticeably increased. Such aremoval device is arranged in the rod intake area of the garnituredevice. Regarding the removal device, reference is made to, e.g.,European Patent No. EP 0 582 136 B1, in which a corresponding removaldevice is described in detail and the disclosure of which is included inthis application in its entirety. In the cited European printed patentspecification, a surface of great hardness formed by imbedding at leastone layer of a fine-grained, abrasion-resistant material is provided inthe area of a removal edge that interacts with the rod conveyor, atleast while removing the tobacco particles. In the cited printed patentspecification, this surface is preferably coated with polycrystallinediamond.

[0020] The base body of the removal device also features a rod guidesurface that according to the invention is provided at least in partwith the corresponding steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.The rod guide surface is aligned in the garniture device in the rodtravel direction with the rod guide surface of the garniture tongue and,together with at least one other rod guide surface of the garnituredevice running opposite, forms a longitudinal section of a rod channel.Through the further development of the garniture device, such that atleast a part of the rod guide surface of the removal device is made ofthe steel alloy with high titanium carbide content, the service life ofthe removal device is also increased.

[0021] The steel alloy with high titanium carbide content preferablycorresponds to the rod guide surface of the garniture tongue of theremoval device. Thus, identical steel alloys can preferably be used.

[0022] Furthermore, a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry ispreferably provided with a corresponding garniture device according tothe invention or a further development of the garniture device accordingto the invention, as described above.

[0023] The present invention is directed to a garniture tongue of agarniture device of a rod machine arranged for compressing a material.The garniture tongue includes a rod guide surface and the garnituretongue being composed at least in part of a steel alloy with hightitanium carbide content. The garniture tongue can be structured andarranged in a tobacco processing apparatus. Further, the garnituretongue can be structured and arranged to compress a rod of tobacco.

[0024] In accordance with a feature of the invention, at least a part ofthe rod guide surface can include the steel alloy with high titaniumcarbide content.

[0025] According to still another feature of the present invention, thesteel alloy with high titanium carbide content may be a steel alloyproduced by powder metallurgy.

[0026] A titanium carbide content of the steel alloy may be over 20% byweight. Further, the titanium carbide content of the steel alloy can bebetween 31% by weight and 35% by weight, and, preferably, the titaniumcarbide content of the steel alloy is between 32% by weight and 34% byweight.

[0027] In accordance with still another feature of the instantinvention, the binder phase of the steel alloy may be martensite oraustenite.

[0028] According to still another feature, the steel alloy can behardened.

[0029] The garniture tongue can further include a first tongue part anda second tongue part, which are coupled to each other. Further, thesecond tongue part can include the rod guide surface. The first tonguepart may be composed of a steel alloy, and the first tongue part and thesecond tongue part can be soldered together. The second tongue part maybe composed of the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.Moreover, the first and second tongue parts can be composed of differentsteel alloys. Alternatively, the first and second tongue parts may becomposed of same steel alloys.

[0030] According to the invention, the steel alloy with high titaniumcarbide content is structured so as not to effect taste of the material.

[0031] The present invention is directed to a garniture device of a rodmachine of a tobacco processing industry with the above-describedgarniture tongue.

[0032] According to a feature of the invention, the garniture device canfurther include a garniture intake area, a rod conveyor structured andarranged to convey the material to the garniture intake, and a removaldevice structured and arranged to remove and transfer particles of thematerial from the rod conveyor to the garniture intake area. The removaldevice may include a rod guide surface in which at least a part of therod guide surface of the removal device is composed of the steel alloywith high titanium carbide content. The steel alloy with high titaniumcarbide content of the rod guide surface of the removal device cancorrespond with that of the rod guide surface of the garniture tongue.The rod guide surface of the removal device is aligned with the rodguide surface of the garniture tongue.

[0033] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the removaldevice may be coupled to the garniture tongue.

[0034] Moreover, the removal device may include a removal edge. Theremoval edge can be composed of a hard ceramic material with embeddedpolycrystalline diamond. Further, the removal edge can be covered withan abrasion resistant layer, and the abrasion resistant layer caninclude a polycrystalline diamond layer sintered into an underlyingmetal.

[0035] The present invention is directed to a rod machine of a tobaccoprocessing industry that includes the above-described garniture device.

[0036] The present invention is directed to a compression surface of acompression mold that includes a guide surface arranged to contact amaterial to be compressed, and the guide surface is at least in partcomposed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

[0037] The instant invention is directed to a compression mold thatincludes a compression surface having a guide surface structured andarranged to contact a material to be compressed, a compression channelinto which the material is compressed by the guide surface, and aremoval device structured and arranged to transfer particles into thecompression channel. The compression surface is at least in partcomposed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.

[0038] In accordance with still yet another feature of the presentinvention, the removal device can include a guide surface, and the guidesurface of the compression surface and the guide surface of the removaldevice may each at least in part composed of the steel alloy with hightitanium carbide content. The guide surface of the removal device may bealigned with the guide surface of the compression surface. Further, thecompression channel may include a guide surface arranged opposite theguide surfaces of the removal device and the compression surface.Moreover, each of the guide surfaces can include a u-shaped channelarranged to compress the material into a cylindrical form. The removaldevice and the compression surface can be coupled to each other. Atitanium carbide content of the steel alloy may be over 20% by weight,and preferably, between 31% by weight and 35% by weight, and mostpreferably, between 32% by weight and 34% by weight. The binder phase ofthe steel alloy is martensite or austenite. Still further, the steelalloy is hardened.

[0039] The present invention is directed to a process for compressing amaterial in a garniture device of a rod machine. The process includesguiding the material along a rod guide surface of a garniture tonguethat, at least in part is composed of a steel alloy with high titaniumcarbide content. The material becomes compressed as it is guided alongthe rod guide surface.

[0040] Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the presentinvention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention is further described in the detaileddescription which follows, in reference to the noted plurality ofdrawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, in which like reference numerals represent similarparts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0042]FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal section through a garnitureintake of a cigarette rod machine;

[0043]FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a garniture tongue viewedin direction II depicted in FIG. 1; and

[0044]FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a removal device viewedapproximately in the direction III depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0045] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and forpurposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the presentinvention only and are presented in the cause of providing what isbelieved to be the most useful and readily understood description of theprinciples and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In thisregard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the presentinvention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamentalunderstanding of the present invention, the description taken with thedrawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the severalforms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0046]FIG. 1 illustrates the garniture (forming) intake of a cigaretterod machine 1. It shows a discharge end 2 of a suction rod conveyor 3and a garniture device 4 with a garniture bed 6, a garniture tongue 7and a garniture section 8. Suction rod conveyor 3 circulates in adirection of arrow 11 in a tobacco channel 9 and conveys a fiber rod oftobacco fibers (not shown) from a rod assembly zone (likewise not shown)to transfer to garniture device 4. The fiber rod is conveyed hanging onsuction rod conveyor 3 in tobacco channel 9, whereby it is held onsuction rod conveyor 3 by an induced suction acting throughout suctionrod conveyor 3. Garniture bed 6 features a rod guide surface 12 (notshown in detail) that forms a rod channel, which is curved in crosssection, having a curvature radius which continuously narrows fromintake cone 13 to garniture section 8 in a rod travel direction andwhich discharges the desired formed rod shape, into a rod channel 14 ofgarniture section 8. A garniture belt 17, circulating in a direction ofarrow 16, is guided in intake cone 13, along rod guide surface 12 andinto rod channel 14. Garniture belt 17 also carries wrapper materialstrip 18 through garniture device 4. As the technology of such machinesis sufficiently known, more detailed representation and description isnot necessary here.

[0047] In the area of intake cone 13, suction rod conveyor 3 convergesto rod guide surface 12 of garniture bed 6 and deposits the tobacco rodcombined and evened in the usual manner in a rod assembly zone (notshown) onto wrapper material strip 18 moving through garniture device 4.As it passes through intake cone 13, the tobacco rod is stronglycompressed due to the action of suction rod conveyor 3 and deformedaccording to a cross sectional change of intake cone 13 in conveyordirection 16 of garniture belt 17. In this manner, the tobacco rod canenter rod channel 14 partially enclosed by rod guide surface 12 ofgarniture bed 6. Garniture tongue 7 is arranged with a scraper 25 nextto garniture bed 6 in the area of rod guide surface 12 to act as anotherrod guiding device. Moreover, scraper 25, together with rod guidesurface 12 of garniture bed 6, forms a rod guidance unit furthercompressing and forming the fiber rod.

[0048] Scraper 25 is attached, e.g., by screws 22 or other suitablemanners of attachment on a face side to garniture tongue 7 of garnituredevice 4. Scraper 25 can also be embodied in one piece with garnituretongue 7. Scraper 25 includes a base body 19, having an undersideembodied as or forming rod guide surface 21. In its installed position,scraper 25 is located opposite rod guide surface 12 of garniture bed 6,so that both rod guide surfaces 12 and 21 enclose a rod guide channel28. To this end, rod guide surface 21, when viewed in the direction IIIshown in FIG. 1, is curved in a concave manner, as depicted by the frontview of scraper 25 in FIG. 3, and is aligned with rod guide surface 23which is embodied or formed on an underside of garniture tongue 7. Ininteraction with the other parts of garniture intake 1, this embodimentof rod guide surfaces 12, 21 and 23 causes, in a known manner, theformation of an arriving tobacco rod into a cylindrical fiber rod withthe simultaneous wrapping of this fiber rod with wrapper material strip18.

[0049] The diagrammatic section of garniture tongue 7, viewed in thedirection II in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. According to the invention,garniture tongue 7 includes a steel alloy 30. In this regard, steelallow 30 can be connected to garniture tongue 7 by a soldered seam 31.Moreover, rod guide surface 23, which is curved, is shown formed withinsteel alloy 30. Thus, in accordance with the invention, garniture tongue7 is formed by soldering steel alloy 30 to a conventional steel alloy32. A suitable conventional steel alloy 32, which is customarily used,is marketed by Engineer Precision, New Jersey, USA, under the productnumber 9.0406. Another suitable material, which is formed by sinteringfrom powder material into section 32 of garniture tongue 7, is marketedby Zapp GmbH & Co. KG, Ratingen, Germany, under the name CPM 10 V. Ofcourse, other steels or sintered metals are also suitable for realizingsteel alloy 32 of garniture tongue 7. Moreover, it is also contemplatedthat garniture tongue 7 can also be made completely of steel alloy 30.

[0050] A front view of scraper 25, when viewed in the direction IIIdepicted in FIG. 1, is illustrated in FIG. 3. Intake end 24 of scraper25 and an abrasion-resistant layer 27 are recognizable.Abrasion-resistant layer 27 can include a diamond layer, as described indetail in European Application No. EP 0 582 136 B1. Removal edge 26 ofscraper 25 is arranged on intake end 24 of the scraper (see FIG. 1), isoriented crosswise to travel direction 11 of rod conveyor 3, and ispositioned close to the surface of rod conveyor 3 or adjacent to it. Atleast one layer 27 of a fine-grained abrasion-resistant material isembedded in the surface of removal edge 26. Layer 27 includes, e.g.,polycrystalline diamond and is sintered into an underlayer of hardmetal. Removal edge 26 can also be made of a hard ceramic material inwhich polycrystalline diamond is embedded in its surface. Diamond layer27 extends on removal edge 26 over an entire width of rod conveyor 3and, thus, reliably removes all tobacco fibers from rod conveyor 3. Inthis way, the tobacco rod is transferred reliably and completely fromrod conveyor 3 onto wrapper material strip 18. By embodying or formingremoval edge 26 of hard metal and a coating with, e.g., polycrystallinediamond, wear-resistance of removal edge 26 is substantially increased,which considerably extends its service life.

[0051] Moreover, in accordance with the invention, rod guide surface 21can also be provided with steel alloy 30, which has high titaniumcarbide content. In this manner, the surface life of scraper 25 can alsobe clearly increased. Further, by extending the replacement intervals,the cost-effectiveness of the machine's use is thus increased.

[0052] Preferable and acceptable examples of steel alloy 30 have beendescribed above. Further above discussion relates to, in particular, astructure of titanium carbide and martensite or a structure of titaniumcarbide and austenite. Preferable compounds of the corresponding andpreferable steel alloys according to the invention are sold by ThyssenStahl AG, Krefeld, Germany, under the trade name “FERRO-TITANIT.” Thetitanium carbide content is preferably over 20% by weight and inparticular between 31% by weight and 35% by weight.

[0053] The above-noted materials also provide an additional advantage inthat they do not change the taste during the processing of tobacco. Inparticular, the corresponding components of the disclosed steel alloyare not reactive with tobacco or the flavor of tobacco.

[0054] According to the invention, garniture tongue 7 and/or scraper 25can feature channels (not shown in the Figures) from which a slidingfluid and/or cleaning fluid can be emitted so that rod guide surfaces 23and 21 are even more sliding or can be cleaned. Moreover, it isadditionally possible to also have flavor emitted from the channels sothat the flavor of the tobacco can be improved. Further, the slidingand/or cleaning fluid can preferably additionally also improve the tasteof the tobacco.

[0055] The geometric design of garniture tongue 7 can also be differentfrom that depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this regard, it is contemplatedthat garniture tongue 7 can have alternative shapes, including, but notlimited to, the shape depicted in FIG. 6 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,165,which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0056] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merelyfor the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed aslimiting of the present invention. While the present invention has beendescribed with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understoodthat the words which have been used herein are words of description andillustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made,within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and asamended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention in its aspects. Although the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends toall functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as arewithin the scope of the appended claims.

[0057] List of Reference Numbers

[0058]1 Rod machine

[0059]2 Discharge end

[0060]3 Suction rod conveyor

[0061]4 Garniture device

[0062]6 Garniture bed

[0063]7 Garniture tongue

[0064]8 Garniture section

[0065]9 Tobacco channel

[0066]11 Arrow direction

[0067]12 Rod guide surface

[0068]13 Intake cone

[0069]14 Rod channel

[0070]16 Arrow direction

[0071]17 Garniture belt

[0072]18 Wrapper material strip

[0073]19 Base body

[0074]21 Rod guide surface

[0075]22 Screw

[0076]23 Rod guide surface

[0077]24 Intake end

[0078]25 Scraper

[0079]26 Removal edge

[0080]27 Abrasion-resistant layer

[0081]28 Rod guide channel

[0082]30 Steel alloy

[0083]31 Soldered seam

What is claimed:
 1. A garniture tongue of a garniture device of a rodmachine arranged for compressing a material, comprising: a rod guidesurface; and said garniture tongue being at least in part composed of asteel alloy with high titanium carbide content.
 2. The garniture tonguein accordance with claim 1, wherein said garniture tongue is structuredand arranged in a tobacco processing apparatus.
 3. The garniture tonguein accordance with claim 2, wherein said garniture tongue is structuredand arranged to compress a rod of tobacco.
 4. The garniture tongue inaccordance with claim 1, wherein at least a part of said rod guidesurface comprises the steel alloy with high titanium carbide content. 5.The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein said steelalloy with high titanium carbide content is a steel alloy produced bypowder metallurgy.
 6. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1,wherein a titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is over 20% byweight.
 7. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 6, wherein saidtitanium carbide content of said steel alloy is between 31% by weightand 35% by weight.
 8. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 6,wherein said titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is between 32%by weight and 34% by weight.
 9. The garniture tongue in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the binder phase of said steel alloy is martensite oraustenite.
 10. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid steel alloy is hardened.
 11. The garniture tongue in accordancewith claim 1, further comprising a first tongue part and a second tonguepart, which are coupled to each other.
 12. The garniture tongue inaccordance with claim 11, wherein said second tongue part includes saidrod guide surface.
 13. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 11,wherein said first tongue part is composed of a steel alloy.
 14. Thegarniture tongue in accordance with claim 13, wherein said first tonguepart and said second tongue part are soldered together.
 15. Thegarniture tongue in accordance with claim 14, wherein said second tonguepart is composed of said steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.16. The garniture tongue in accordance with claim 15, wherein said firstand second tongue parts are composed of different steel alloys.
 17. Thegarniture tongue in accordance with claim 15, wherein said first andsecond tongue parts are composed of same steel alloys.
 18. The garnituretongue in accordance with claim 1, wherein said steel alloy with hightitanium carbide content is structured so as not to effect taste of thematerial.
 19. A garniture device of a rod machine of a tobaccoprocessing industry with a garniture tongue in accordance with claim 1.20. The garniture device in accordance with claim 19, furthercomprising: a garniture intake area; a rod conveyor structured andarranged to convey the material to said garniture intake; and a removaldevice structured and arranged to remove and transfer particles of thematerial from said rod conveyor to said garniture intake area.
 21. Thegarniture device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said removaldevice comprises a rod guide surface in which at least a part of saidrod guide surface of said removal device is composed of said steel alloywith high titanium carbide content.
 22. The garniture device inaccordance with claim 21, wherein said steel alloy with high titaniumcarbide content of said rod guide surface of said removal devicecorresponds with that of the rod guide surface of said garniture tongue.23. The garniture device in accordance with claim 22, wherein said rodguide surface of said removal device is aligned with said rod guidesurface of said garniture tongue.
 24. The garniture device in accordancewith claim 19, wherein said removal device is coupled to said garnituretongue.
 25. The garniture device in accordance with claim 19, whereinsaid removal device comprises a removal edge.
 26. The garniture devicein accordance with claim 25, wherein said removal edge is composed of ahard ceramic material with embedded polycrystalline diamond.
 27. Thegarniture device in accordance with claim 25, wherein said removal edgeis covered with an abrasion resistant layer.
 28. The garniture device inaccordance with claim 27, wherein said abrasion resistant layercomprises a polycrystalline diamond layer sintered into an underlyingmetal.
 29. A rod machine of a tobacco processing industry comprising agarniture device in accordance with claim
 19. 30. A compression surfaceof a compression mold comprising: a guide surface arranged to contact amaterial to be compressed; and said guide surface being at least in partcomposed of a steel alloy with high titanium carbide content.
 31. Acompression mold comprising: a compression surface comprising a guidesurface structured and arranged to contact a material to be compressed;a compression channel into which the material is compressed by saidguide surface; and a removal device structured and arranged to transferparticles into said compression channel, wherein said compressionsurface is at least in part composed of a steel alloy with high titaniumcarbide content.
 32. The compression mold in accordance with claim 31,wherein said removal device comprises a guide surface, and said guidesurface of said compression surface and said guide surface of saidremoval device are each at least in part composed of the steel alloywith high titanium carbide content.
 33. The compression mold inaccordance with claim 32, wherein said guide surface of said removaldevice is aligned with said guide surface of said compression surface.34. The compression mold in accordance with claim 32, wherein saidcompression channel comprises a guide surface arranged opposite saidguide surfaces of said removal device and said compression surface. 35.The compression mold in accordance with claim 34, wherein each of saidguide surfaces include a unshaped channel arranged to compress thematerial into a cylindrical form.
 36. The compression mold in accordancewith claim 32, wherein said removal device and said compression surfaceare coupled to each other.
 37. The compression mold in accordance withclaim 32, wherein a titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is over20% by weight.
 38. The compression mold in accordance with claim 37,wherein said titanium carbide content of said steel alloy is between 31%by weight and 35% by weight.
 39. The compression mold in accordance withclaim 37, wherein said titanium carbide content of said steel alloy isbetween 32% by weight and 34% by weight.
 40. The compression mold inaccordance with claim 32, wherein the binder phase of said steel alloyis martensite or austenite.
 41. The compression mold in accordance withclaim 32, wherein said steel alloy is hardened.
 42. A process forcompressing a material in a garniture device of a rod machine, saidprocess comprising: guiding the material along a rod guide surface of agarniture tongue that, at least in part is composed of a steel alloywith high titanium carbide content, wherein the material becomescompressed as it is guided along the rod guide surface.